]]>Vote NO in NOvember
Don’t let utilities block the sun, vote ‘no’ on Amendment 1
Amendment 1 is funded by Florida’s big utilities to protect their monopoly markets and limit customer-owned solar. It paves the way for barriers that would penalize solar customers. Worse, it misleads Florida voters by promising rights and protections that Florida citizens already have.
Florida has the most solar energy potential east of the Mississippi, yet isn’t a leader on solar power. Vote YES on Amendment 4 to lower bills and allow solar energy to flourish in Florida.

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Source: Rocky Mountain Institute
By Amory B. Lovins
(Editor’s note: this piece originally appeared in Roll Call on Nov. 9, 2009, in a slightly different form.)
“In his remarks at the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen in December, President Obama did say (to my delight) that climate solutions advance both prosperity and security, but he hadn’t time to rebut in detail the “sign error”—the widespread fallacy that climate solutions are intrinsically an economic burden.
Now that the post-Copenhagen dust has settled and it’s time to refocus on what we should be doing and get back to work, here are eight convenient truths to consider and share about climate and energy.” Read the Eight Convenient Truths >>>

]]>Tips for Successful Solar Hot Water Installationshttps://solarsource.net/tips-successful-solar-hot-water-installations/
Mon, 08 Dec 2014 20:23:30 +0000http://solarsource.net/?p=2604December 8, 2014 Steven Bushong By Rick Gilbert, Special to Solar Power World Throughout recorded history humans used either fire or the sun to heat water. Some communities now have solar water in over 90% of their homes. SHW is often the “forgotten solar” among many professionals nowadays, as PV prices continue to fall and […]

]]>December 8, 2014Steven BushongBy Rick Gilbert, Special to Solar Power WorldThroughout recorded history humans used either fire or the sun to heat water. Some communities now have solar water in over 90% of their homes. SHW is often the “forgotten solar” among many professionals nowadays, as PV prices continue to fall and more people are drawn toward the appeal of generating their own electricity. Nonetheless, SHW represents the largest solar market on Earth, and is an affordable alternative to PV that is reliable, environmentally friendly and saves people money. Full Article at http://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2014/12/tips-successful-solar-hot-water-installations/

]]>July 14, 2014
For Immediate ReleaseContact: Rick Gilbert, rgilbert@solarsource.net, (727) 572-4247 x 125
Interactive Solar Exhibit at LEGOLAND Teaches Children Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) SkillsSolar Source installs 30-kW solar array at LEGOLAND with funding from Tampa Electric’s Renewable Energy Program.Largo, FL – Solar Source installed a 30-kW solar panel array at LEGOLAND Florida’s Imagination Zone with funding from Tampa Electric’s Renewable Energy program. LEGOLAND took the array to the next level, opening a solar power exhibit featuring an interactive 6-foot LEGO Earth model.
Solar Source mounted multi-crystalline panels to the roof of the Imagination Zone: a hands-on learning & activity center in the theme park.
The new LEGO Earth exhibit demonstrates how solar technology works and allows visitors to manipulate the panels to understand how they generate solar electricity. The solar energy generated on the rooftop powers an interactive exhibit inside of the Imagination Zone where guests can interact with model communities made out of LEGOs.
“We are proud to put our technology on display to increase exposure and provide educational opportunities for children and their parents,” said Rick Gilbert, Vice President of Solar Source.
LEGOLAND is not the first theme park that Solar Source has worked with; for instance they installed a solar water heating system for Disney Parks. Solar Source has a history of working with public and private partners, such as the City of St. Petersburg, Lowry Park Zoo, and Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) to provide solar power installations that not only produce electricity, but also educate the public on the benefits of clean, renewable energy.
“It’s fitting that some of TECO’s renewable energy “blocks” were built with LEGO bricks,” said Gilbert. “They serve two purposes: producing electricity, and enhancing awareness.”
Tampa Electric funded the LEGOLAND project as a part of their Renewable Energy program that gives customers the option to purchase “blocks” of renewable energy. Located in Lakeland, LEGOLAND Florida is the largest LEGOLAND Park in the world. The iconic “LEGO” bricks encourage children to explore their imagination and challenge their creativity.
According to the American Solar Energy Industry, U.S. solar capacity has quadrupled in the last four years – growing 418 percent from 2010-2014. The U.S. installed 1,330 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) in the first quarter of 2014, up 79 percent over Q1 2013.
About Solar Source
Headquartered in Largo, Florida Solar Source (Constructive Resource, Inc. dba Solar Source) is licensed solar electrical, and general contracting firm with additional locations in Ontario, Canada and New Jersey. Solar Source specializes in industrial, commercial, and residential projects including photovoltaic (PV), solar water heating and pool heating. Projects include the first rooftop megawatt (MW) PV system in Florida, the largest PV system in Cuba at Guantanamo Naval Base, the largest solar pool heater in the world, in Mexico and solar heating systems for the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia and Athens, Greece. Solar Source is also the founding entity of Solar Source Institute, a licensed, accredited educational facility that provides solar training for the construction industry.
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]]>LEGOLAND Florida Runs On Solarhttps://solarsource.net/legoland-florida-runs-solar/
Mon, 09 Jun 2014 13:39:51 +0000http://solarsource.net/?p=2577April 22, 2014 | Kathleen Zipp LEGOLAND Florida and Tampa Electric partner to make the 150-acre theme park run completely on renewable energy for the day in celebration of Earth Day – the first theme park to do so in the United States. The celebration is part of existing and new conservation initiatives, including installations that […]

]]>April 22, 2014 | Kathleen ZippLEGOLAND Florida and Tampa Electric partner to make the 150-acre theme park run completely on renewable energy for the day in celebration of Earth Day – the first theme park to do so in the United States. The celebration is part of existing and new conservation initiatives, including installations that will educate park guests about solar energy. As part of the partnership, LEGOLAND Florida will also permanently power a section of the park, Imagination Zone, on renewable energy. Full Story >>>